The Secrets of Heavenly: Heavenly Plantation, Book 1

Olivia's marriage to an African-American man was unacceptable to her mother Emma, Southern-bred descendant of prominent South Carolina slaveholders. Olivia assumed that bigotry was the product of her mother's loyalty to long-dead relatives, an allegiance to maintain the family's white blood line. After Emma's death though, Olivia finds a letter and an old journal among her belongings.

Sister of Mine: A Novel

When two Union soldiers stumble onto a plantation in northern Georgia on a warm May day in 1864, the last thing they expect is to see the Union flag flying high - or to be greeted by a group of freed slaves and their Jewish mistress. Little do they know that this place has an unusual history. Twelve years prior, Adelaide Mannheim - daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county - was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret.

Grace: A Novel

For a runaway slave in the 1840s South, life on the run can be just as dangerous as life under a sadistic master. That's what 15-year-old Naomi learns after she escapes the brutal confines of life on an Alabama plantation. Striking out on her own, she leaves behind her beloved Momma and sister, Hazel, and takes refuge in a Georgia brothel run by a freewheeling, gun-toting Jewish madam named Cynthia.

Dollbaby: A Novel

When Ibby Bell's father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother Fannie and throws in her father's urn for good measure. Fannie's New Orleans house is like no place Ibby has ever been - and Fannie, who has a tendency to end up in the local asylum - is like no one she has ever met. Fortunately, Fannie's black cook, Queenie, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Dollbaby, take it upon themselves to initiate Ibby into the ways of the South both its grand traditions and its darkest secrets.

Jubilee, 50th Anniversary Edition

Jubilee tells the true story of Vyry, the child of a white plantation owner and his black mistress. Vyry bears witness to the South's antebellum opulence and to its brutality, its wartime ruin, and the promises of Reconstruction. Weaving her own family's oral history with 30 years of research, Margaret Walker's novel brings the everyday experiences of slaves to light. Jubilee churns with the hunger, the hymns, the struggles, and the very breath of American history.

Jefferson's Sons

Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston are Thomas Jefferson's children by one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, and while they do get special treatment - better work, better shoes, even violin lessons - they are still slaves, and are never to mention who their father is. The lighter-skinned children have been promised a chance to escape into white society, but what does this mean for the children who look more like their mother? As each child grows up, their questions about slavery and freedom become tougher....

Someone Knows My Name

Aminata Diallo is the beguiling heroine of Lawrence Hill's Someone Knows My Name. In it, Hill exquisitely imagines the tale of an 18th-century woman's life, spanning six decades and three continents. The fascinating story that Hill tells is a work of the soul and the imagination. Aminata is a character who will stir listeners, from her kidnapping from Africa through her journeys back and forth across the ocean.

The Wedding Gift

When Cornelius Allen gives his daughter Clarissa’s hand in marriage, he presents her with a wedding gift: the young slave she grew up with, Sarah. Sarah is also Allen’s daughter and Clarissa’s sister, a product of his longtime relationship with his house slave, Emmeline. When Clarissa’s husband suspects that their newborn son is illegitimate, Clarissa and Sarah are sent back to her parents, Cornelius and Theodora, in shame, setting in motion a series of events that will destroy this once-powerful family.

Perfect Peace: A Novel

When the seventh child of the Peace family, named Perfect, turns eight, her mother, Emma Jean, tells her bewildered daughter, "You was born a boy. I made you a girl. But that ain't what you was supposed to be. So from now on, you gon' be a boy. It'll be a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it, and this'll be over after while." From this point forward, his life becomes a bizarre kaleidoscope of events. Meanwhile, the Peace family is forced to question everything they thought they knew about gender, sexuality, unconditional love, and fulfillment.

The House Girl: A Novel

The year is 2004: Lina Sparrow is an ambitious young lawyer working on a historic class-action lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of American slaves. The year is 1852: Josephine is a 17-year-old house slave who tends to the mistress of a Virginia tobacco farm - an aspiring artist named Lu Anne Bell. It is through her father, renowned artist Oscar Sparrow, that Lina discovers a controversy rocking the art world: Art historians now suspect that the revered paintings of Lu Anne Bell, an antebellum artist known for her humanizing portraits of the slaves who worked her Virginia tobacco farm, were actually the work of her house slave, Josephine.

The Underground Railroad (Oprah's Book Club)

The Newest Oprah Book Club 2016 Selection. Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood - where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned - Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.

The Kitchen House: A Novel

Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin. Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction.

Cane River

Cane River is an isolated community that lies on a small river in central Louisiana. There in the early 19th century, slaves, free people of color, and Creole French planters lived and worked, loved and bore children. And there, 165 years later, Tademy discovers her amazing heritage. Beginning with her great-great-great-great grandmother, a slave owned by a Creole family, Tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black women.

The Darkest Child

Delores Phillips' heart-rending debut novel is set in 1950s Georgia where most of Rozelle Quinn's 10 children can pass as white. Her brightest child, Tangy Mae, however, has the darkest skin of them all, and she longs to continue her education. But Rozelle thinks it's time for 13-year-old Tangy Mae to follow in her own footsteps and earn money "cleaning for whites" and bedding men at the "Farmhouse."

The Daughter of Union County

Fourteen years after the end of slavery, Lord Henry Hardin and his wife, Lady Bertha, enjoy an entitled life in Union County, Arkansas. Until he faces a devastating reality: Bertha is unable to bear children. If Henry doesn't produce an heir, the American branch of his family name will die out. So Henry, desperate to preserve his aristocratic family lineage, does the unthinkable.

The Book of Night Women

The story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the 18th century. Even at her birth, the slave women around her recognize a dark power that they - and she - will come to both revere and fear. The Night Women, as they call themselves, have long been plotting a slave revolt, and as Lilith comes of age and reveals the extent of her power, they see her as the key to their plans.

All Different Kinds of Free

A free woman of color in the 1830s, Margaret Morgan lived a life full of promise. One frigid night in Pennsylvania, that changed forever. They tore her family apart. They put her in chains. But they never expected her to fight back. In 1837, Margaret Morgan was kidnapped from her home in Pennsylvania and sold into slavery. The state of Pennsylvania charged her kidnapper with the crime, but the conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Yet, the heart of this story is not a Supreme Court ruling.

32 Candles: A Novel

Davie—an ugly duckling growing up in small-town Mississippi—is positive her life couldn’t be any worse. She has the meanest mother in the South, possibly the world, and on top of that, she’s pretty sure she’s ugly. Just when she’s resigned herself to her fate, she sees a movie that will change her life—Sixteen Candles. But in her case, life doesn’t imitate art.

Citizens Creek: A Novel

Cow Tom, born into slavery in Alabama in 1810 and sold to a Creek Indian chief before his 10th birthday, possessed an extraordinary gift: the ability to master languages. As the new country developed westward, and Indians, settlers, and blacks came into constant contact, Cow Tom became a key translator for his Creek master and was hired out to US military generals.

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds: The Malayan Series, Book 1

Facing challenges in an increasingly colonial world, Chye Hoon, a rebellious young girl, must learn to embrace her mixed Malayan-Chinese identity as a Nyonya - and her destiny as a cook, rather than following her first dream of attending school like her brother. Amidst the smells of chillies and garlic frying, Chye Hoon begins to appreciate the richness of her traditions, eventually marrying Wong Peng Choon, a Chinese man. Together, they have ten children.

Queen Sugar: A Novel

Why exactly Charley Bordelon's late father left her eight hundred sprawling acres of sugarcane land in rural Louisiana is as mysterious as it was generous. Recognizing this as a chance to start over, Charley and her 11-year-old daughter, Micah, say good-bye to Los Angeles. They arrive just in time for growing season but no amount of planning can prepare Charley for a Louisiana that's mired in the past: as her judgmental but big-hearted grandmother tells her, cane farming is always going to be a white man's business.

Candle in the Darkness

Winner of the 2001 Christy Award, Lynn Austin captures the turmoil of the Civil War in this stirring novel. From vast plantations to the cramped closets of the Underground Railroad, it follows one young woman's inspiring journey of risk and sacrifice.

Here Comes the Sun: A Novel

At an opulent resort in Montego Bay, Margot hustles to send her younger sister, Thandi, to school. Taught as a girl to trade her sexuality for survival, Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi from the same fate. When plans for a new hotel threaten their village, Margot sees not only an opportunity for her own financial independence but also perhaps a chance to admit a shocking secret: her forbidden love for another woman.

The Mothers: A Novel

It is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, 17-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother's recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor's son. Luke Sheppard is 21, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it's not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance - and the subsequent cover-up - will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth.

Publisher's Summary

The pre-Civil War South comes brilliantly to life in this masterfully written novel about a mysterious and charismatic healer readers won’t soon forget....

Mississippi plantation mistress Amanda Satterfield loses her daughter to cholera after her husband refuses to treat her for what he considers to be a “slave disease.” Insane with grief, Amanda takes a newborn slave child as her own and names her Granada, much to the outrage of her husband and the amusement of their white neighbors. Troubled by his wife’s disturbing mental state and concerned about a mysterious plague sweeping through his slave population, Master Satterfield purchases Polly Shine, a slave reputed to be a healer. But Polly’s sharp tongue and troubling predictions cause unrest across the plantation. Complicating matters further, Polly recognizes “the gift” in Granada, the mistress’s pet, and a domestic battle of wills ensues.

Seventy-five years later, Granada, now known as Gran Gran, is still living on the plantation and must revive the buried memories of her past in order to heal a young girl abandoned to her care. Together they learn the power of story to heal the body, the spirit and the soul.

Rich in mood and atmosphere, The Healing is the kind of novel readers can’t put down - and can’t wait to recommend once they’ve finished.

What the Critics Say

"Engrossing.... Bound to be compared to Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling The Help, this historical novel... probes complex issues of freedom and slavery." (Library Journal)

"A terrific novel that will take its place in the distinguished pantheon of Southern fiction. Like The Help, that showstopping work by Kathryn Stockett, The Healing is another Mississippi-born work of art and Odell's Polly Shine is a character for the ages." (Pat Conroy, author of The Prince of Tides and South of Broad)

"Jonathan Odell won me over with his fresh take on an 1860's Mississippi plantation, and the connective power of story to heal body, mind and community. Long after closing the novel's final pages, I'm still marveling about Polly Shine, an inventively subversive slave healer, and a character I won't soon forget." (Lalita Tademy, author of Cane River, an Oprah's Book Club selection, and Red River)

I was so amazed by this book and now relistening to this book makes me want to get back to my roots if you understand how to work with your senses/vibes and realize that some people are true HEALERS. The characters in this story are truly unforgettable. The narrator was just perfect and made me feel as if I was truly a part of this story. Overall I think this is one of the best southern old history classics that I needed to hear in order for me to understand myself and where my people come from. I have always been told by people since i was a young child that I just know things and when I start telling people whats gonna happen and it finally happens and they see it but they had already heard the story before it happens people are so amazed and they just cling to you. I would have never expected that this author is white but truth be told color doesn't matter when someone is trying to tell a compelling story. I would recommend this book during Black History month. I never realized that back in slave days OPIUM was just like the crack epidemic today. Once you read this book I think it will open doors to how to not ignore feelings with in yourself and help you re examine who you really are and what powers you hold and how to make those powers work for you. It may not be supernatural but simply a way to expand your mind.

Wow! Jonathan Odell, I would have never guessed he was white after hearin this book. And if you want to know what I'm talkin about then you'll just have to read the book, to see. I truly enjoyed this book. Granada and Aunt Sylvie had me laughin out loud, but mostly it was Granada; Polly Shine gave me a few chuckles as well. Everytime I think of Daniel Webster I can't help but to giggle, yes giggle. I want everyone I know to read or listen to this book. I want people to enjoy it as much as I did, and I want to hear their opinions about it. I also liked the interview that J. Odell added to the end of the book. It was indeed a good read.

I LOVE what most consider Young Adult fiction, but I would call it closer to Mature Young Adult. For example, sparkly vampires...not my thing. My favorite Author so far is Karen Marie Moning but I also have favorite books like A Game of Thrones which is EPIC!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Healing to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but the narrator is AWESOME!!

What other book might you compare The Healing to and why?

Billy. It's a very different, very short book, but it had such insight into another child that had no idea what was happening that the stories have that in common, but Grenada grows to understand.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think the explanation of how missing names can affect a person and their line. Also, the author's note is very personal and so inspiring that it affected me in a personal way. It was the silence that kept people where they were. That's a powerful idea

Who was the most memorable character of The Healing and why?

Grenada. She grows a lot throughout the story and it makes me wonder about my grandmother's story. She was nearly 100 when she passed and like the author, she was born and raised in Mississippi during a time when it was wrong to be black. Furthermore, once again the author's note was personal to me because my grandmother who was a straight A student and had some college (even as a black woman in the mid 1900's) she dropped out when a teacher told her "You're the best student I've ever had, but why do you try so hard? You're black, you can't be anything but maid" *True Story* Her silence caused her to drop out and do domestic work for the remainder of her time in the South. Can't be a nurse, be a midwife.

Any additional comments?

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I figured (well, the Author has my Dad's name and my favorite Uncle's name, so it might be a sign) :-) I'm so happy I read this book! I also find it interesting that while I've listened to this book, I've found new family members, was told more stories from my family and it dawned on me that I'm only four - five generations outside of slavery....what other stories and people have I forgotten? Not only that, but as a woman, this story is resonates with me even more! Kudos to Jonathan Odell for weaving a masterful story of HUMAN nature and emotions. If more people took a moment to accept and acknowledge their own faults and why they may be wrong, we would have more stories like these.

Adenrele Ojo did a masterful job with this audio book. I felt like the storyline could have had a bit more excitement and drama, but fascinating accounting of the times, and very interesting characters.

This book not only offers a look inside the lives of slaves, it allows us to see how self taught slaves became valued on the plantation. I caught myself going back to certain things Polly said and feeling that she was in charge at times. To me, this was something spectacular in such a dismal time in America.

Where does The Healing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A midwife friend of mind told me this book was "ah-mazing." She was so right! I'd rate it as one of the best books I've ever read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Polly Shine, a true heroine.

What does Adenrele Ojo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Adenrele Ojo is a talented voice actress. She interpreted the meanings of the sentences perfectly every time, so it felt as though she were acting out the words, as opposed to just reading them. Her voice, coupled with the exquisite writing, brought the characters and the scenery to life.

If you could take any character from The Healing out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I wish the cook would make dinner for me, but I'd pay her handsomely for the privilege rather than treat her like a slave. Of course, I'd love to take Polly Shine to dinner to hear her talk and see her mannerisms, but who wouldn't choose her first!

Any additional comments?

This book was a fulfilling story within another story. When the most fulfilling story about Polly Shine ends, rather than be sad the story is over, it keeps going on about Gran Gran and the girl she's telling the story to, Violet. This is why I call the book a gift to the reader. I call it a gift to humanity because the author explains in his segment at the book's end that the last thing we need is another book about a slave needing help from an enslaver. In this book, the slaves have the power, the enslavers need saving from them, and the slaves have the upper hand, winning in the end.

The characters have depth and great humanity with all their vices within the world of one southern plantation. Loved how it unfolded, I was easily able to weave my own senses of history into the story and the pictures that were painted. The narrator did a beautiful job of portraying what the author wrote into his characters. The pleasant gift at the end from Mr. Odell himself was superb! Thanks.